Walking from East to West

I just finished reading Ravi Zacharias' autobiography called Walking from East to West and I would highly recommend it to anyone and everyone. As I read the last pages my thoughts went back to Joshua and when he and the elders divided the land they determined much more than where each family would live but what would influence their lives. Ravi is the man he is today because of those influences in his life and how those influences led him to know Jesus Christ as his Lord. It was amazing how Gos shaped this man so that he is today a leading apologetic for the Gospel.

Mathematics Anyone?

I already said that I grew up in rural Saskatchewan. The land in Saskatchewan is divided into townships which measure six miles on each side. In each township there are 36 sections which are one mile square and each section is divided into quarters called quarter sections of 160 acres each.
The problem is that a farmer had a piece of land that consisted of 3 sections as shown in the diagram. He had four sons to which he willed three quarter sections each. However the farmer loved the shape of his land (L shape) and it was his desire that each of the properties that his sons inherited would have exactly the same shape as the original farm. Can you divide the land for the farmer?
When Joshua and the elders divided the land it was to be given to a family and to that families heirs. The land was not to be sold but kept by the family. That did create some questions such as what if the land owner did not have any heirs?
Let me know if you can divide the land in the diagram above. I would like to offer a prize for the first one but ...

Treasure Map

As a kid I was fascinated by treasure maps. We would hid things in cans and then decide where to bury them. We would then draw a treasure map. Ten steps west from the barn, 15 steps east to the big tree, etc. I even helped our kids bury some treasure in our yard. The treasure usually consisted of a few coins, pictures, etc.
As a look at the dividing of the land in Joshua it is almost like making a treasure map. "This was the territory of Ephraim, clan by clan: The boundary of their inheritance went from Ataroth Addar in the east to Upper Beth Horon and continued to the sea. From Micmethath on the north it curved eastward to Taanath Shiloh, passing by it to Janoah on the east. Then it went down from Janoah to Ataroth and Naarah, touched Jericho and came out at the Jordan. From Tappuah the border went west to the Kanah Ravine and ended at the sea." Joshua 16:5 - 8
This all sounds so ordinary but it was the land that God had chosen for the people of Ephraim. It was no accident that God chose that land for them and it is no accident that God has placed us where we are today.

Driving the Truck

I am one of the drivers of our BFM truck and when I read the dividing of the land by Joshua and the elders it reminded me of how I get directions sometimes. Go down to the corner where the big tree is and turn left. Follow that road to the Smith farm and take the next right. An on and on go the directions. Now I am a relatively new comer to Chatham so I need directions that include street names and addresses. We now use a GPS which does help.
The dividing of the land was somewhat like those directions. They used well known landmarks to draw the property lines. However, as they did this they determined a great deal about what would happen in people lives and for the descendants. It was not down by chance, God determined where would be the best place for families to live so that they could come to know Him. Where you live is where God placed you and it is there that you can find Him.

Library and Archives Canada

Today I was surfing through the Library and Archives Canada website. I took time to look at genealogical page and found both of my grandfathers and the land that they were allotted in Saskatchewan. Because both of my grandfathers had immigrated from England I was born in Canada and raised in Saskatchewan. I am sure that had an influence on my life.
When we read through Joshua 13 through 19 we find Joshua assigning the land to the people. Where they lived was part of what they became. God has planted us where we can grow in Him. Though I live in Southern Ontario now I am thankful that I was raised in rural Saskatchewan.

Guilty of Loving His People

The main story of Joshua is not that He was punishing the Canaanites but rather that He is keeping His promise to His people. He is being extremely loving and kind to His people and giving them the land that He promised them. He is making a land where justice rules and the righteous can dwell. To do this He must destroy the wickedness that is in the land. He has to destroy so that He can bring salvation. This is not modern genocide, this is rigtheousness. The destruction of wickedness and the salvation of the righteous go hand in hand, you cannot have one without the other. There is no room in heaven for wickedness and there was no room in the land for wickedness. God gave them time to repent but He is just and judgment will come. He is also extremely loving and kind to His people. Are you part of the people of God? Today is the day of salvation.

The Gospel

My brother-in-law preached at our church today and his text was Colossians 3:1 - 4. I want to publicly thank him for his sermon. He preached the gospel of Jesus Christ which all of us need to hear every day. He reminded us what it means to be hidden in Christ. The Gospel is not just for sinners it is what each of us needs every day. Thank you Bob.